Billionaire Ong Beng Seng Charged with Obstruction

Singapore has charged property tycoon Ong Beng Seng with two counts related to the obstruction of justice and abetment, following the sentencing of former transport minister S Iswaran to 12 months in prison for accepting over $300,000 in gifts and obstructing justice. Ong, who is the managing director of Hotel Properties Limited and credited with bringing Formula One to Singapore, allegedly provided Iswaran with valuable gifts including F1 tickets and an all-expenses-paid trip to Doha on his private jet. The case marks a significant corruption scandal in Singapore, with Iswaran being the first former minister sentenced to prison in nearly 50 years, raising concerns about the integrity of the ruling party. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is likely to face pressure as he prepares for upcoming elections amid this controversy. Ong was previously arrested in July 2023 and released on bail, and the investigation continues to put scrutiny on his business practices. His company had stated that he remains suitable to fulfill his role pending the investigation's outcome.